Multiflavor ice cream nozzle



March 30, 1954 R. F. ANDERSON 2,673,675

MULTIFLAVOR ICE CREAM NOZZLE Filed Jan. 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l 23 22 5 2, 1 I I I $59.4. "27 4 Q [raven 277' B 771 1 M M y fliyarney 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. F. ANDERSON MULTEFLAVOR ICE CREAM NOZZLE m ,4 W By fl/forneys w/W U March 30, 1954 Filed Jan. 2, 1952 March 1954 R. F. ANDERSON MULTIFLAVQR ICE CREAM NOZZLE 4 Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2, 1952 March 30, 1954 R. F. ANDERSON 2,673,675

' MULTIFLAVOR ICE CREAM NOZZLE Patented Mar. 30,v 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,673,675 MULTIFLAVOR ICE CREAM NOZZLE Ralph F. Anderson, Rockford, Ill. Application January 2, 1952, serial No. 264,552 10 Claims. (01. 226-100) This invention relates to a multi-flavor filler nozzle assembly for plastic comestibles, such as ice cream.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel arrangement for discharging multiple flavors of comestible material into a receptacle.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel arrangements for discharging multiple flavors of comestible material into each of a plurality of receptacles.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel arrangements for discharging differently flavored comestible material from two separate sources into each of a plurality of receptacles.

It is also an object-of this invention to provide a multi-flavor filler nozzle which is of separable construction facilitating its cleaning.

A specific object of thisinvention resides in the provision of a multi-flavor filler nozzle of unitary novel construction enabling the filling of a large number of receptaclessimultaneouslyfrom each of two separate sources of plastic comest'ible material, such as ice cream.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the follow-' ing description of preferred embodiments;there of, which are shown in the'acco'mp'anying drawings to illustrate the principles and practical ap-'- plication of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of one form of' the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the lower plate and; which forms a part of inner tube sub-assembly the overall filler nozzle assembly of Fig. 1; V

Figure 3 is a front view of the Fig. 1 assembly mounted on an ice cream supply source;

Figure 4 is a front view of the Fig. 2 sub-assembly;

Figure 5 is an end view, Fig. 2 assembly;

Figure 6 is a front view of another embodiment: 7 place on an" ice' cream supply source and showing-thereceptacles of the invention mounted in to be filled inposition:

Figure '7 is an end view of 'th'eFi-gi 6 formof the invention detached from theicecream supply source;

partly in section of the Figure 8 is a top view of" a topplate forming" part of the embodiment of the inventionwhich'is shown in Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a section along the line 9*91'11" Fig.

Figure 10 is a top view'of a mi'd ing. part of the-Fig. 7*assembly z charged from gear pump 8|.

Figure 11 is a section along the line Fig. 10;

Figure 12is a top view of a bottom plate which is part of the assembly of Fig. 7;

Figure 13 is a section along the line Fig. 12; v

Figure 14 is a longitudinal section through the Fig. 7 assembly;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary top view showing the mounting for one of the nozzles in the Fig. 7 assembly;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary section showing details of the mounting of the outer tube in the nozzle of Fig; 15;

Figure 1'7 is a top view of the inner tube in the Fig. 15 nozzle; and

Figure 18 is a front view, partly broken away, showing the inner tube in the Fig. 15 nozzle.

In the following description, the practical utility of the invention will be related to the feeding of ice cream in a plastic state to receptacles to be filled. It is to be understood, however, that the'invention is not limited to use with this parll-ll in ticular comest ible but may also be used with other housing 20'is divided'by the vertical partition 84 into two separate'chambers which communicate respectively with separate sources of differently flavored ice cream for discharging the same to the filler nozzle. The partition 83 separates one gear set 19 from the adjacent gear set 80 at one side of partition 84, while the partition 85 separates gear set 81 from gear set 82 at the opposite side of partition 84.

The filler nozzle assembly includes an upper plate 2| (Fig. 4) whose upper face abuts against the lower face of pump housing 251 (Fig. 3). At one end the upper plate Zlis formed with a pair of holes or passages 22 and 23. Passage 22 receives the ice'creamdischarged from gear pump 82, while passage'23 receives the ice cream dis- At its other end the upper plate 2'! is formed with a pair of frustoconical holes or passages Hand 25 in which the frusto-conical, open upper ends of the inner tubes 26 and 2l'are separably'seated. These tubes 26 and 2'l'define passages which at their upper ends communicate respectively with the pumps 19 and at this end of the'housin'g to receive the ice creamtherefrom and to discharge the same downwardlythrough their open lower ends to the Directly beneath the upper plate 2| there is positioned the lower plate 28 which has its upper face abutting against the lower face of the upper plate. A pair of vertical holes or passages 29 and 38 extend directly through the lower plate directly beneath the holes 24 and 25 in upper plate 2|. A pair of depending outer tubes 3| and 32 are suitably attached to the lower plate at these holes, as by welding and soldering. These holes 29 and 30 in the lower plate and the outer tubes 3| and 32 are dimensioned to freely receive the inner tubes 25 and 21, so that annular passages 33 and 34 are formed respectively between the inner and outer tubes 26 and 3| and the inner and outer tubes 21 and 32. These downwardly extending annular passages communicate at. their upper ends, at the holes 29 and 30, with channel shaped passages 35 and 36 formed in th upper face of the lower plate 28. At their opposite ends these passages terminate at circular recesses 31 and 38 in the upper face of lower plate 28 which register respectively with the holes or passages 23 and 22 formed in the upper plate 2|. Thus, ice cream discharged through the respective passages 22 and 23 in upper plate 2| passes through the passages 36 and 35 in the upper plate down through the annular passages 34 and 33 formed between the respective inner and outer tubes.

The entire assembly of upper plate 2|, inner tubes 26 and 21, lower plate 23, and outer tubes 3| and 32 is releasably attached, as by threaded bolts, to the underside of pump housing 29. The protrusions 39 on inner tube 26 and 43 on inner tube 21 are for the purpose of centering the inner tubes within their respective outer tubes.

In the operation of this form of the invention, ice cream of one flavor is discharged by the pumps 19 and 39 directly into the inner tubes 26 and 21 and passes downwardly therethrough to the receptacle to be filled. The other flavor of ice cream is discharged by the other pumps 8| and 82 through the holes 23 and 22 in upper plate 2|,

and thence through passages and 36' in lower 7 plate 28 to the annular passages 33 and 34 formed between the inner and outer tube assemblies;

Because of the intended use of this filler nozzl assembly, which is the feeding of comestible products, such as ice cream, it is imperative that it be maintained sanitary. To this end, the'assembly of Figs. l-5 may be disassembled readily by first unbolting it from the pump housing 23. Then the lower plate 28 and the outer tubes 3| and 32, which are secured thereto, are separated from the sub-assembly of the upper plate 2| and the inner tubes 25 and 21. Finally, the inner tubes 26 and 21 may, if desired, be lifted out of the upper plate. the upper plate 2| may then be readily cleaned by a brush, while the passages in the inner tubes 25 and 21 and the outer tubes 3| and 32 may also be cleaned by brushes inserted at their respective open upper ends. The passages 35 and 36 in the upper face of the lower plate 28 are also readily accessible for cleaning by running a brush or similar cleaning article therealong.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6-18, there is provided a pair of assemblies 4| and 42 of twelve gear pumps each at opposite ends of the pump housing 43. These pump assemblies communicate respectively with two separate sources of differently flavored ice cream. Attached to the underside of the pump housing'is a filler nozzle assembly, indicated generally at 44, having twelve separate depending nozzles for filling a corresponding number of receptacles 45.

The vertical passages 22-25 in k This filler nozzle assembly includes a top plate 42 (Fig. 8) which has a plurality of spaced vertical passages or holes 21, as, 39, 52, 53, 55, 51 and 58 adjacent one end positioned to communicate with the first pump assembly 4| to receive the ice cream discharged therefrom. Top plate is also formed with channel shaped passages 5|, 5-! and 55 extending along its upper face from adjacent the first pump set inwardly to the vertical passages orholes. 53a, 5|a,,54a and 550., which extend through the top plate. These'passages 5|), 5|, 54 and 55 pass ice cream from the first pump assembly to the passages 53c, 55a, 53a and 55a. Adjacent its opposite end the top plate 45 is formed with a plurality of spaced vertical passages or holes 6|, 64, 55 and 63 which communicate with the second pump assembly 42 to pass the ice cream discharged therefrom. Top plate 46 is also formed at its upper face with channel shaped passages 59, 80, G2, G3, 55, 31, 59 and 1B, which extend from beneath the second pump assembly to the vertical passages or holes 59a, 63a, 62a, 63a, 66a, 51a, 69a and 12a. The passages 59, '63, '62, 63, 66, 61, 63 and 19 pass ice cream from the second pump assembly to the passages 59a, 50a, 52a, 63a, 66a, 61a, Efia and 15a.

Directly beneath the top plate 45 is a middle or intermediate plate 1| having its upper face abutting against the lower face of the top plate 13. Plate 1| is formed with a plurality of vertical passages or holes 41?], 48b, 43b, 52b, 53b, 5%, 51b and 582) which register respectively with the correspondingly numbered passages 51, 48, 49, 52, 53, 55, 51 and 5B in the top plate. Plate 1| is also formed with vertical passages or holes 59b, EH), 5417 and 55b which register respectively with the holes 50a, 5|a, 54a and 55a in top plate 26. Also formed in plate 1| are a plurality of vertical passages or holes 62b, 53b, 68b and 31?) which register respectively with the holes 52, 63, 66 and 51 in top plate 48. Also formed to extend through the middle plate are the elongated passages 59?), 60b, Blb, 64b, 55b, 68b, 69b and 1% which register respectively with the holes 59a, 63a, 5|, 64, 65, 68, 69a and 10a in top plate 46.

The bottom plate 12 of the filler nozzle assembly is formed with twelve vertical passages or holes 59c-1ilc, which are substantially surrounded at their upper ends by counterbores 59d-10d. The holes 590- register respectively with the passages 59b-10b in the middle plate. At its upper face the bottom plate 12 is formed with elongated passages 41c, 48c, 51c and 580 which respectively effect communication between the passages 41b, 48b, 51b and 58b in the middle plate 1| and the passages 6|c, 64c, 65c and 680 in the bottom plate. Also at its upper face the bottom plate 12 ,is formed with relatively short passages 49c, 50c, 5|c, 52c, 53c, 54c, 55c and 550 which respectively effect communication between the passages 49b, 50b, 5|b, 52b, 53b, 54b, 55b and 53b in the middle plate 1| and the passages 52c, 62c, 53c, 62c, 69c, 66c, 61c and 100 in the bottom plate 12.

Figure l4 illustrates the mounting at the passages 60c, 63c and 640 of the inner and outer tubes through which ice cream is discharged to the receptacles disposed therebeneath. The other nine inner and outer tubes in the nozzle assembly are mounted in similar fashion.

The inner tube 636 (Fig. 18) has its transverse flange 63 at its upper end seated in the counterbore 63d at the upper end of the passage 530 in the bottom plate 12. As best seen in Fig. 17, the upper flange 63) on the inner tube 53c is formed with an arcuate recess 63g which snugly receives.

5;. a screw 13 threadedly received in the upper face of e om plate thi mann r he inner tube flange 63 is properly located angularly in the counterbore 63d in which it is seated.

The outer tube 5! e is fixedly secured to lower plate 12, as by welding and soldering, at the pas.- sage 63c and extends downwardly therefrom. As best seen in Fig. i l, the inner tube We is of substantially smailer diameter than the outer tube,

die in which it is positioned, so that an annular passage "id is formed between them. This annular passage 14 communicates with the passage 510 formed in the upper face of bottom plate 12, while the passage defined by inner tube 63c com.- municates with the passage 63b in the middle plate 5 i.

In like manner, the inner tube 60c is mounted to have its axial passage communicate with the passage 69?) in the middle plate H, while the annular passage 75 between inner and outer plates Elle and 52e communicates with the passage 520 formed in the upper face of the bottom plate 62.

Likewise, the inner tube 64c is positioned with its passage in communication with the passage Mb in the middle plate "H, and the annular passage it between outer tube48e and inner tube Ede communicates with the, passage 480 formed in the upper face of the bottom plate 12.

The top, middle and bottom plates 46, "H and it are releasably interconnected by threaded bolts Tl, which carry wing nuts 18 at their outer ends. The entire assembly is releasably attached to the pump housing 43 by threaded bolts 16a.

As illustrative of the operation of this assembly, the how paths for ice cream to the filler nozzle assembly of tubes tile and 63e are as follows: Ice cream of one flavor is discharged to the passage 5! in the upper face of the top plate 56 and thence through hole Ma in the topplate, through passage Eilb in the middle plate H, and thence through passage M at the upper face of the bottom plate 12 to the annular passage 74 between outer tube i e and inner tube 63c. Also, ice cream of a different flavor is discharged to the passage 63 in the upper face of the top plate 43 and thence through the hole 63a in the top plate through passage 63b in the middle plate H to the axial passage extending through the inner tube 632. Thus, two different flavors of ice cream may be discharged at the nozzle formed by outer and inner tubes Eilc and 63e. The same is true for each of the other combinations of an outer and an inner tube.

For cleaning the filler nozzle assembly of Figs. 6-18, the assembly is first unbolted from the underside of the pump housing 43. Then the subassembly of bottom plate 12 and the inner and outer tubes is separated from the remainder of the nozzle assembly, after which the loosely positioned inner tubes are separate from the integral combination of the lower plate 12 and the outer tubes. Finally, the top and middle plates 46 and 1| are separated from one another. This leaves the vertical passages which extend through the top plate 56 and the elongated channel shaped passages formed in the upper faceof the top plate accessible for cleaning. Likewise the severa1 vertical passages through the middle plate H are accessible for cleaning, and the vertical passages in the bottom plate 72 and the channel shaped passages in the upper face thereof are accessible for cleaning. The inner and outer tubes may be cleaned by brushes inserted through their open upper ends.

While in the foregoing description thereare hown rr embo ime ts of hepr sent in:

vention, it is to be understood that various changes, modifications, omissions, and refine,- ments which depart from the described forms of the invention may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A multi-flavor filling nozzle comprising a first plate, an inner tube depending therefrom and defining a downwardly extending passage opening at its upper end through said first plate to receive material discharged therethrough, said first plate being formed with a downwardly ex tending passage in spaced relation from said inner tube, a second plate located beneath said first plate and separable therefrom, said second plate being formed with an elongated channel at its fiat upper face communicating with said downwardly extending passage in the first plate and extending away therefrom and terminating in a hole through which said inner tube extends loosely, and an outer tube attached to said second plate and communicating with said hole to receive the material discharged at said downwardly extending passage in the first plate through said channel in the upper face of the second plate.

2. A multi-flavor filling nozzle comprising a first plate formed with a first hole, an inner tube depending from said first plate and defining a downwardly extending passage which opens at its upper end at said first. hole in the first plate for receiving the material discharged thereat, a lower plate separably disposed beneath said first plate and formed with a hole through which said inner tube extends in spaced relation from the walls defining the hole, an outer tube attached to lower plate and surrounding said inner tube in spaced relation therefrom to define therewith an annular passage communicating with said hole in the lower plate, sai d first plate being formed with a second hole in spaced relation from said inner tube, and said lower plate being formed at its flat upper face with an elongated channel communicating between said hole in the lower plate and said second hole in the first plate to pass the material discharged at said second hole in the first plate to said annular passage be tween the inner and outer tubes.

3. A multi-fiavor filling nozzle comprising a lower plate formed with a hole, an outer tube integrally secured to the lower plate at said hole therein and depending therefrom, said lower plate being formed at its flat upper face with an elongated channel communicating with said hole and extending away therefrom, a second plate disposed immediately above said lower plate, said second plate being formed with a first hole registering with said hole in the lower plate, an inner tube reieasably mounted at said second plate at said first hole therein and extending downwardly therefrom through said hole in the lower plate and said outer tube, said inner tube being open at its upper end to receive material discharged thereat, said inner tube being dimensioned to pass loosely through said hole in the lower plate and said outer tube to form therewith an annular passage between the outer and inner tubes which communicates at its upper end with said channel in the upper face of the lower plate, said second plate being formed with a second hole in spaced relation from said inner tube and communicating with said channel in the upper face of the lower plate to pass to said annular passage between the outer and inner tubes the material discharged at said second hole in the second plate, and mean for releasably attaching said lower plate and said second plate together.

4. A multi-flavor filling nozzle comprising a first plate formed with a first hole, an inner tube extending downwardly from said first plate and defining a tubular passage which opens at its upper end at said first hole in the first plate for receiving the material discharged thereat, a lower plate separably disposed beneath said first plate and formed with a hole through which said inner tube extends, an outer tube attached to said lower plate at said hole therein and extending downwardly therefrom, said outer tube loosely surrounding said inner tube and defining therewith a downwardly extending passage communicating with said hole in the lower plate, said first plate being formed with a second hole in spaced relation from said inner tube, and said lower plate being formed at its flat upper face with an elongated channel extending between said hole in the lower plate and said second hole in the first plate to pass the material discharged at said second hole in the first plate to said downwardly extending passage between the outer and inner tubes.

5. A inulti-flavor filling nozzle comprising a lower plate formed adjacent one end with a pair of holes including an outer hole located adjacent said end of the lower plate and an inner hole spaced inwardly from said outer hole in a direction from said end of the lower plate, a pair of outer tubes integrally secured to the lower plate at said holes therein and extending downwardly therefrom, said lower plate being formed at its fiat upper face with a pair of separate elongated channels which communicate respectively with said outer tubes and which extend away therefrom and terminate adjacent the other end of the lower plate alignment with said pair of holes in the lower plate, an upper plate disposed im mediately above said lower plate, said upper plate being formed adjacent one end with a first pair of holes which register respectively with said holes in thelower plate, a pair of inner tubes releasably mounted on said upper plate at said first pair of holes therein and extending downwardly therefrom respectively through the corresponding holes in the lower plate and the corresponding outer tubes, said inner tubes being open at their upper ends to receive the material discharged thereat and being dimensioned to pass loosely through the corresponding holes in the lower plate and the corresponding outer tubes to form therewith annular passages which extend downwardly between the interfitting outer and inner tubes and which communicate at their upper ends with the respective channels in the upper face of the lower plate, said upper plate being formed adjacent its other end with a second pair of holes which communicate respectively with the channels in the upper face of the lower plate to pass to said annular, downwardly extending passages between the outer and inner tubes the material discharged at said second pair of holes in the upper plate, and means for releasably attaching said upper and lower plates together.

6. A multi-fiavor filling nozzle for filling a plurality of receptacles from two sources of differently flavored ice cream, comprising a top plate formed with a plurality of passages which are open at their upper ends adjacent respective opposite ends of the top plate for receiving ice cream discharged thereat and which pass downwardly through the top plate, a middle plate separably mounted directly beneath the top plate and formed with a first set of passages extending through the middle plate and communicating with those passages in the top plate which extend from adjacent one end thereof, a plurality of downwardly extending inner tubes separably positioned to extend beneath said middle plate and positioned inwardly from said opposite ends of the plate assembly, said inner tubes communicating with respective ones of the passages of said first set of passages in the middle plate to receive the ice cream discharged at said passages in the top plate at said one end thereof, said middle plate being formed with other passages which extend through the middle plate and which communicate with the other passages in the top plate extending from adjacent the opposite end thereof, a bottom plate separably positioned directly beneath said middle plate and. formed with a plurality of passages communicating with said other passages in the middle plate to receive the ice cream discharged at said opposite end of the top plate, and outer tubes secured to said bottom plate and extending downwardly therefrom in communication with said passages in the bottom plate, each of said outer tubes surrounding an inner tube and loosely receiving the same to define therewith a downwardly extendin passage communicating with the respective passage in the bottom plate.

7. A multi-fiavor nozzle comprising telescopically interfitting inner and outer downwardly extending tubes which define a space between them, and separable plates disposed above said tubes formed with passages communicating respectively with the passage enclosed by the inner tube and with the passage at the space between the inner and outer tubes and terminating respectively adjacent opposite ends of the plate assembly at the upper side thereof 8. A multi-flavor nozzle comprising a plurality of separable plates formed with a plurality of passages which extend from two rows of openings located respectively adjacent opposite ends of the plate assembly at the upper side thereof to locations positioned inwardly from the ends of the plate assembly, and a plurality of rows, greater than two, of sets of telescopically interfitting inner and outer tubes which define spaces between the tubes of each set, said rows of tube sets being located inwardly from said rows of openings, said inner tubes communicating with the passages in the plates leading from the row of openings adjacent one end of the plate assembly and the space between the inner and outer tubes communicatin with the respective passages in the plates leading from the row of openings adjacent the opposite end of the plate assembly.

9. A multi-fiavor filling nozzle for filling a plurality of rows, greater than two, of receptacles from two sources of differently flavored plastic comestible, comprising a top plate formed with a first plurality of passages presenting openings which extend in a row at the upper face of the top plate adjacent one end of the top plate, certain of said passages extending straight through the top plate and the others of said passages being in the form of channels extending along the upper face of the top plate and terminating in a series of holes through the top plate located inwardly from said one end of the top plate, said top plate being formed with a second plurality of passages presenting openings which extend in a row at the upper face of the top plate adjacent the opposite end of the top plate, certain of said second plurality of passages extending straight through the top plate and the others of said second plurality of passages being in the form of channels extending along the upper face of the top plate and terminating in a series of holes through the top plate located inwardly from said opposite end of the top plate, a bottom plate separably positioned below said top plate and formed with a plurality of channels extending along the upper face of the top plate and communicating with said second plurality of passages in the top plate, said channels in the bottom plate terminating in a plurality of rows, greater than two, of holes extending through the bottom plate, a plurality of downwardly extending inner tubes separably positioned to extend below said bottom plate and arranged in a plurality of rows, greater than two, located inwardly from the ends of the plate assembly, said inner tubes at their upper ends etxending up through said holes in the bottom plate and communicating thereat respectively with said first plurality of passages in the top plate, and outer tubes secured to said bottom plate and extending downwardly therefrom, said outer tubes at their upper ends communicating respectively with said holes in the bottom plate, each of said outer tubes surrounding an inner tube and loosely receiving the same to define therewith a downwardly extending annular passage communicating with the respective hole in the bottom plate.

10. A multi-fiavor filling nozzle for filling a plurality of rows, greater than two, of receptacles from two sources of differently flavored plastic comestible, comprising a top plate formed with a first plurality of passages presenting openings which extend in a row at the upper face of the top plate adjacent one end of the top plate, certain of said passages extending straight through the top plate and the others of said passages being in the form of chamiels extending along the upper face of the top plate and terminating in a series of holes through the top plate located inwardly from said one end of the top plate, said top plate being formed with a second plurality of passages presenting openings which extend in a row at the upper face of the top plate adjacent the opposite end of the top plate, certain of said second plurality of 10 passages extending straight through the top plate and the others of said second plurality of passages being in the form of channels extending along the upper face of the top plate and terminating in a series of holes through the top plate located inwardly from said opposite end of the top plate, a middle plate separably mounted directly beneath the top plate and formed with a first set of passages which communicate respectively with said first plurality of passages in the top plate and a second set of passages which communicate respectively with said second plurality of passages I in the top plate, a plurality of downwardly extending inner tubes separably positioned beneath said middle plate and arranged in a plurality of rows, great er than two, located inwardly from the ends of the plate assembly, said inner tubes at their upper ends communicating respectively with said first set of passages in the middle plate to receive the comestible discharged into said first plurality of passages in the top plate, a bottom plate separably positioned directly beneath said middle plate and formed with a plurality of channels extending along the upper face of the bottom plate and communicating with said second set of passages in the middle plate, said channels in the bottom plate terminating in a plurality of rows, greater than two, of holes extending through the bottom plate and through which said inner tubes extend freely, and outer tubes secured to said bottom plate and extending downwardly therefrom, said outer tubes at their upper ends communicating respectively with said holes in the bottom plate, each of said outer tubes surrounding an inner tube and loosely receiving the same to define therewith a downwardly extending annular passage communieating with the respective hole in the bottom plate.

RALPH F. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,067,750 Bagby -i Jan. 12, 1937 2,147,686 Bagby Feb. 21, 1939 

